Bid to Refugees is Denied by Albania Official

July 14, 1935

London (Jul. 12)

That the Albanian government has not extended an invitation to German-Jewish refuigees to settle in Albania, and that no Jewish delegation has been invited by the Albanian Cabinet to come to Tirana for negotiations, was made clear here today in an official statement issued by Fuad Aslani, Albanian Minister in London, to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

The Minister issued the statement after making an official inquiry of his government. In the written statement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, he emphasizes that if Jews are willing to come to Albania they must bring along with them sufficient funds to invest in the country.

“My government,” the statement reads, “would consider favorably applications of Jews who wish to settle in Albania, providing they are desirous of establishing themselves in our country by investing funds in agricultural and in industrial enterprises of the country. Such Jews would be enabled by the government to acquire Albanian citizenship.

“On the other hand,” the statement continues,” no invitation, official or otherwise, has been extended to Jews to settle in Albania. Similarly no delegation has been asked to come to Tirana to discuss this subject.”

This statement by the Albanian Minister in London definitely discredits the report that the Albanian government is ready to admit